Earl Eugene Whitlow was born July 8, 1917 in Pawnee County, OK the son of Robert Burns and Edna Mae (Harrison) Whitlow. He completed this life on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at the age of 96. Earl was raised in Pawnee where he graduated from high school, and is believed to have been the oldest living alumni. He served our country during World War II in the U.S. Army. He married Betty Lucille Coppinger May 3, 1948. They moved to Guthrie where they started their family. In 1955 they moved their family to Oklahoma City where they have lived ever since. He is survived by his sons: Greg Whitlow and his wife Sherry, Randy Whitlow and his wife Carole and Ryan Whitlow and his wife Kristi; his grandchildren: Shawna and Travis Salkil, Kelly and T.J. Ross, Elizabeth and Mark Pickens, Robert and Taylor Whitlow, Leslie and Chad Gorham; and 8 great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife off 55 years, Lucille; his daughter, Barbara Kay Whitlow; his granddaughter, Ashley Whitlow; and his brothers and sisters. The essence of Earl Whitlow's life can be described in three words: grit, family and faith. Born during World War I, he faced dust bowl days, Great Depression, more wars, epidemics, and nuclear threats. Dad actually lived the stories we thought were made up: walking in snow to school, chopping wood, hunting and fishing for dinner and hitch-hiking cross country. The first in his family to graduate from high school, he took jobs building Pawnee Lake Dam at a young age. Upon his discharge from the armed forces, he managed service stations in the days of ration cards for gas and tires. He served as an air raid warden, making sure that all lights were off and doors secure. He returned to Oklahoma to carve out a living in the oilfield, where he worked the toughest jobs in sometimes brutal conditions. It was in the oilfield that he was able to leverage his talents to move from roughneck, to Engineer, to Account Executive, ending his career living a life he could not even dream of as a child. All of this was made possible by his willingness to work hard, take responsibility, and solve tough problems. Although these qualities served him well, he always credited his success to his wife, Lucille. When asked of his greatest accomplishments, he always talked of raising his three boys. Dad and Mom built a home where stability, security and devotion was the norm. There was never a day when we didn't feel safe, supported and loved. Dad's commitment to his family and work stemmed from his relationship with God. He stood by his values and faith with a steadfast, uncompromising resolve. It was through his faith that Dad was able to hold strong through the very end of his ninety six years. He will be missed by his family and friends, but his story and the lessons he taught us will remain. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 on Friday in the funeral home. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7th in the Vondel Smith North Colonial Chapel, 13125 N. MacArthur with interment following in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Oklahoma Teen Challenge, 909 S Meridian Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73108. www.okteenchallenge.com